Fishing-net buoy



O. T. MELVIN.

FISHING NET BUOY.

APPLICATION FILED MAY s. 1920.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921..,

e MM. 5T m w O UNITED STATES ODUM T. MELVIN,i OF ST. ANDREWS, AFLDRIDA.

FISHING-NET BUOY.

specification of Letters raient.

- Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

Application filed May 6, M20. Serial No. 379,394.

To all who-m t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ODUM THOMAS MEL- vrN a citizen of the United States,residing at t. Andrews, in the county of Bay and State of Florida, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Fishing-Net Buoys, ofwhich the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to seining buoys and has for an object to provideabuoy of improved construction, with a self contained light, adapted tobe ioated at any time and anywhere and for any purpose but especiallydesigned and intended for association with a seine, to identify theposition of the seine in the night as well as day and more especiallyagain to identify the end of the seine first thrown overboard so thatthe opposite end of the seine may properly encircle the requiredterritory and be brought back to the starting point.

The drawing is a side elevation view of the device shown associated witha convenlamp-supporting member is erected coni-v tional seine, partsbeing broken away to show the internal construction.

The improved buoy comprises a cylindrical housing 1 having a tapered orconical extremity 2 underneath and a frusto-conical upper portion 3, thelatter supplied with an airand water-tight cover or door 4. Thecylindrical portion is divided from the lower `conical portion by meansof a deck or partition 5 and in the chamber formed within thecylindrical portion the lighting arrangement is located, the conicalportion being supplied with a weight preferably cementitious or the likein nature and indicated at 6 for the purpose of maintaining the buoy inan upright position afloat.

The cylindrical portion 1 is provided with a plurality of transparentopenings or windows 7 which will be of any number de sired, indicated inthe drawing as 4, but it is to be understood that the number is in noway limited thereby but any desired or convenient number will beemployed. The transparent portions 7 are secured within the openings ofthe casing in any approved manner to render them waterand air-tight.

ldithin the cylindrical housing an electric prising a foot 8 and socket9 with an electric bulb 10 held thereby, the position of the bulb 10being such that it will best show illumination through the severalwindows 7 To supply current for the light 10 a plurality of batterycells 11 will be employed secured within the housing in any approvedmanner. As shown in the drawing a Strap 12` is hinged at 13 to the sideof the housing and a turn button 14 is provided for'holding the strap inposition. By reason of the curvature of the cylindrical housing the cell11 thus embraced cannot move longitudi nally or laterally and istherefore held rigid within the housing. W'iring 14 conducts currentfrom the batteries to the light 10, controlled by means of a switch 15having any approved type of manual control as the button 16 upon theexterior of the buoy.

Preferably at the apeX of the conical portion 2 a ring or loop 17 isprovided which engages the bight 18 which in turn engages the bridle 19connected with the arm 20 of the seine 21. Vhen the seine 21 is thrownoverboard the upper end is supported by the corkdine 22 and the buoy isretained adjacent to such end by the restraint of the bight. After theseine has been properly set the last end will be brought into engagementwith the arm 2O and the setting will be complete, such engagement beingfacilitated either in the day or the night time by the ease with whichthe arm is located adjacent to the buoy.

Having thus fully described my said invention what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A seining buoy comprising a cylindrical water and air-tight housinghaving tapered ends, a floor for the cylindrical portion, a plurality oftransparent panels in the cylindrical portion, an electric light mountedupon the hoor and positioned to shine through the panels, a cell forsupplying electricity to the light, a strap carried by the housing forremovably securing the cell to the floor, said strap consisting of aflat band hinged at one end to the housing and adapted to be held inposition at the other end by means of a turn button, substantially asdescribed.

2. A seining buoy comprising a cylindrical water and air-tight housinghaving a conically tapered lower end and a frustoconical upper end, acover for the said upper end, a floor for the cylindrical portion, aplurality of transparent panels in the cylindrical portion, an electriclight mounted upon the floor and positioned to shine through the panels7a cell mounted upon the floor for supplying electricity to the light anda switch for controlling the light mounted upon the wall of the uppertapered end whereby the switch is accessible for operation from Withoutthe buoy and while the buoy is in its floated position. 1

ln witness whereof, I have hereunto set l0 my hand and seal atWashington, District of Columbia this fifth day of May, A. D. nineteenhundred and twenty.

oDUM T. MELVIN. [L s]

